In the year A.D. 57, Paul was getting ready to go to Jerusalem with an offering from the churches in Greece. Although he knew he had enemies in Jerusalem, he was already thinking about his next missionary trip.

Paul wanted to go to Spain, and the best travel route would take him through Rome. This could work out well, Paul thought. There are already Christians in Rome, and they might be willing to support my trip to Spain, just as the Antioch church supported my earlier missionary journeys and the Macedonian churches supported me while I was in southern Greece.

So Paul wrote to the Roman Christians to let them know that he planned to come to Rome and go to Spain — and that he would appreciate some support. However, there was a problem: the Roman Christians had heard some erroneous rumors about what Paul preached. Paul explains what the gospel is, so they will know what they are being asked to support.

• Not Ashamed of the Gospel
• Does God Want to Punish Sinners, or to Rescue Them?
• Everyone Needs the Gospel
• From Guilt to Grace
• The Example of Abraham
• Past, Present and Future of Salvation
• Enslaved to Righteousness: A Study of Romans 6
• The Three-way Struggle: Law, Sin, and Me
• Sharing in the Life of Christ: A Study of Romans 8:1-17
• The Certainty of God’s Love: A Study of Romans 8:18-39
• Paul’s Anguish for His People: A Study of Romans 9
• Israel’s Opportunity for Salvation: A Study of Romans 10
• Romans 11 — “All Israel Will Be Saved”
• Attitudes That Please God: Romans 12
• Christians and the Government: Romans 13
• Dealing With Disagreements: Romans 14
• Conflict at Rome: Romans 14
• Jews and Gentiles Together: Romans 15
• Greetings, Friends: Romans 16

Author: Michael Morrison